2.) How do I _lower_ the humidity in my humidor? The humidity in the Midwest is a killer in the summertime, keeping my humidor at at least 80%. I find that my cigars take on a sour flavor when the humidity is that high, and I want to reduce it to about 70-72%.
Thanks!
Posts: 22 | Location: New York, NY | Registered: August 05, 2004
Tubo is what you called the container that some cigars come in. Tubo is spanish means tube. simple enough.
As far as the humidty, try using Climaxx Beads. They will help in stabilizing the proper humidity. Another thing you can do is pop open your humidor and leave it open for about an hour. Hope this helps.
A beautiful blonde, smokin a cigar walks by me and I think to myself, "What a nice ASH!!"
Posts: 308 | Location: Union, NJ - USA | Registered: September 10, 2002
if you have not already done so...........don't leave the lid to your humidor open!!!!!!! It will do more harm than good. Why would you leave the lid open if the external humidity is that high. It will do more harm than good by making the environment unstable. Like the others have said, get some climax beads or get some cedar (spanish) strips to place inside. The idea is to slowly bring the humidity down so your humidor won't develop problems (warping).
I live in Texas and the humidity is also a killer from all the moisture coming up from the gulf. I have never had a problem with the humidty being too high. If you can physically tell that the cigars are way too moist that is one thing. But if you are going off of the reading on your hygrometer, make sure it is calibrated correctly.....
I agree with JamesEIII, use some cedar blocks to absorb some of the moisture. And if you're not using one, I would highly reccomend a digital hydrometer. They are precise and sensative.
Actually, it's funny because the ambient humidity in the home isn't that high--like 55%. I took out all the credos and I just got it down to 76% after a week of removing the credos. It's been at 76% now for three days.
And, yes, judging by the feel of my cigars, I'd like them a bit less humidified.
Posts: 22 | Location: New York, NY | Registered: August 05, 2004
76 is still a little too high. I had a problem with over humidification when I first got my new humidor. I use PG solution to keep it stable and it works quite well. It now stays at 68-70 all the time. Climmax beads might be a better way to go.
Hard work may pay off eventually but laziness always pays off now.
quote:Originally posted by pmpimbura: 76 is still a little too high. I had a problem with over humidification when I first got my new humidor. I use PG solution to keep it stable and it works quite well. It now stays at 68-70 all the time. Climmax beads might be a better way to go.
If the room is 55% and your humi is 76% then it's got to be the humi. I'd go with the PG. Using it for years now and keeps it at around 70% constant.
If the room is at 55% then poping open the lid some for a few days along with the PG will expediate the process.
Take a cigar out and let it sit awhile. Your cigars probably feel soft or spongy right now being over humified. Check it after a day and see if it feels more solid.
What is the temperature in the room. If the humidity is 55% and the temp is 80 degrees then you could be cooking your stogies. The temp in the box will be higher than the room.
Might be steaming them.
Even PG or Styx won't help if it's toooo hot.
In 1917 Lewis Burwell Puller, then a young Cadet, left the Virginia Military Institute at the end of his freshman year to enlist in the US Marines, saying simply, "I want to go where the guns are!"
Posts: 53 | Location: Gibraltar, Michigan, USA | Registered: June 05, 2004
If the room is 55% and your humi is 76% then it's got to be the humi. I'd go with the PG. Using it for years now and keeps it at around 70% constant.
If the room is at 55% then poping open the lid some for a few days along with the PG will expediate the process.
Take a cigar out and let it sit awhile. Your cigars probably feel soft or spongy right now being over humified. Check it after a day and see if it feels more solid.
What is the temperature in the room. If the humidity is 55% and the temp is 80 degrees then you could be cooking your stogies. The temp in the box will be higher than the room.
Might be steaming them.
Even PG or Styx won't help if it's toooo hot.
I disagree with Spy... DON'T open the lid for a few days. It is radical humidity swings that cause cigars to pucker or wrinkle. Just take the humidifying elements out, add some blocks or pieces of cedar from cigar boxes. It will go down over time.
Also, heat won't make a cigar soft on it's own. Overhumidification will.
I recommend Climmax beads! I have 1000 cigars and I trust almost all of them to Climmax. The beads do a much better job of maintaining humiidty than PG. This is simple physics: If an element holds 3 ounces of 50/50 solution, then there are only 1.5 ounces of PG to absorb moisture from the air. Since the solution is already at 50/50, the PG won't absorb any more moisture from the air. You need to put something with LESS moisture into the humi to absorb the excess moisture.
A few ounces of Climaxx beads (dry) can absorb almost their weight in water. A standard sized Climmax element or some loose beads in a container in your humi will do the job much better. Once ideal humidity is reached the beads also do a better job of maintaining that.
Lastly, just because you have a digital hygrometer, don't assume it is perfect. I have seen digital hygrometers in a display case have an 11% spread! You should use the salt test and verify that you digital is correct. (Look up Salt Test)
Yeah, I did the salt test when I received it, and all is well. It's +2 degrees. It actually reads 78%.
I added a strip of Spanish cedar (it's all I had) and it lowered the humidity by 1%.
The temperature is perfect -- 68-70 degrees
BinDer, what is the name of the climmax beads? I visited their site, but I wasn't sure about which product would do well considering that nothing I see is called "beads." They don't seem to describe the products a whole lot.
I apologize in advance for being retarded.
Posts: 22 | Location: New York, NY | Registered: August 05, 2004
